World News, Africa

BREAKING – Ethiopia drops charges against three journalists, two bloggers

By Mahlet Fasil

After a year and three months since they were first detained by the police, charges were dropped this afternoon against Journalists Tesfalem Wadyes  Asmamaw Hailegiorgis and Edom Kassaye  as well as Zelalem Kibret and Mahlet Fantahun, members of the blog Zone9.

FBC, a pro government media outlet reported that charges were dropped only against five of the nine detainees by the order of the ministry of justice.   Prosecutors will continue pursuing charges against Abel Wabella, Natinael Feleke, Befekadu Hailu, Atinaf Berhane and Soliana Shimelis of Zone9 bloggers, the later charged in absentia.

World News, Africa

Court passes guilty verdict on Ethiopian Muslim arbitration committee members et.al

The Ethiopian federal high court fourth criminal bench yesterday passed a guilty verdict on eighteen people: four prominent leaders of the Ethiopian Muslim arbitration committee members, a journalist and thirteen others on counts including attempted terrorism, conspiracy , and incitement.